FAA opens comment period for metroplex environmental assessment

© Shutterstock

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently opened the comment period for its Draft Environmental Assessment associated with the Cleveland-Detroit Metroplex project.

The project aims to make the airspace more efficient by optimizing aircraft arrival and departure procedures for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and 10 of their satellite airports. Changes might be made to aircraft flight paths and altitudes.

The general study area includes nearly 40 Ohio counties, 17 Michigan counties, three Pennsylvania counties and two counties in West Virginia. The FAA will be evaluating the potential environmental impacts from proposed aircraft routing changes that would occur below 10,000 feet.

Satellite airports in the study area include Akron-Canton Regional Airport, Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport, Cuyahoga County Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Oakland County International Airport, Toledo Express Airport, Wayne County Airport, Willow Run Airport, and Windsor Airport.

Electronic versions of the draft will be available at 68 libraries and also can be downloaded.

The FAA also will hold six informative workshops, three each in the Cleveland and Detroit areas.

The public is asked to submit comments at the workshops or via mail or on the document electronically.

The comment period ends Dec. 11.